I know it has been discussed on here before. What are the opinions on the best long range scope on the market? Best package, ie magnification, light gathering, clear, durable, tracks perfect, just all out the best. Cost not an option? Lets keep it in the over 20 power range.

MOst reports will say the best long range hunting scope will be a swarovski or better, and the best long range shooting scope will be a nightforce. Sorry if that doesn't help much, but that's about all I can give you anyway when it comes to scopes. Not my area of expertise...

Now some on the forum here know a good bit more than I do, give skylar a pm, he will steer you inthe right direction if you give him a little more detail of what you are wanting.

I use an SS 5-20 HD Mil/ Mil first foacl plane

Vortex Viper PST 6-24 Mil/ Mil first focal plane

Bushnell Elite Tactical 6-24 Mil/ Mil first focal plane

I like the clarity and functionality of the SS the best, and shoot it the most. The absolute only negative about it is the weight of the scope, it's the heaviest in the bunch. Its also built like a brick s**thouse.

What fireman uses are all good scopes.

I use a US Optics Sn3 3-17 power. Great glass and is indestructible. Also take a look at night force and bushnells new scopes coming out.

Walter

Walter is also right on the money. His other suggestions are all top quality. I'm a first focal plane proponent, so up until last year, the Night Force F-1 was the only scope I would consider in their offerings. If it didn't have a max of 15X I would have one. The new "Beast" intrigues me, but I want some other shooters to put it through its paces before I dive into one.

If price were not a issue then I would have to say Zeiss Hensoldt, Schmidt & Bender, US Optics, and Night Force. But I would take the Zeiss over the others first if it were the Hensoldt ZF 3.5-26x56 model, but 7000 is a lot for a scope or even the Hensoldt ZF 6-24x72 SAM but its 12000.

Fireman, funny you mentioned the Beast. I have been looking at that one as well as the ATACR 5X25. I know they all track great, and have good glass. I know they advertize the light gathering being 90% plus. Anyone have any info on this? Do they gather light better than most? Or is there a better suggection on the low light abilities. Being a hunting scope, there is nothing that I dislike more than a scope that lets me down 30 minutes early....

I can't speak on it. There may be reviews on Snipers Hide, bit I havn't read them.

I can tell you all of the scopes previously mentioned won't let you down in the last 20 minutes of legal light. I pay close attention to the daylight calendar when hunting, and push it to the last minute when in the field. Of course you know to back the magnification down the darker it gets outside. The 50mm objectives allow plenty of light to enter.

I have Zeizz, Nikon, Bushnell, Redfield, on rifles, but the rifle I always go back to is the one with my Nightforce. And when I can tell the difference is just prior to sunrise and just after sunset, when I always seem to shoot.

If money is no object, then a Shmidt & Bender or a Hensolt would be tops. If you want a great scope for the money, then a Nightforce is tops in my book.

there is some nice features on that scope, but at 2500.00 i can buy a brand new f1...duh...

There are lots of nice ones..
add to the list Kahles.

Agree! I run a Schmidt & Bender 5-25x56 on my 300 WM long range rig. It is absolutely phenomenal.

I love that USO, it's awesome, but I would never hunt with it, this and several of the other scopes mentioned are very heavy.

If hunting in a deer blind, you would most likely be ok, but if you are on a spot and stalk or hunting in the rockies, I would definetly re-evaluate my options and look into Swarovski.

There is nothing that can beat them optically and weight is not an issue.

Khales would be a distant second.

Completely agree. It is on a heavy lr rig and only use it at my place where I don't walk too far.

Walter

If you aren't using the scope to range with I wouldn't get a FFP and I wouldn't get MIL, I would opt for the MOA...talking just a hunting scope only.

I didn't see a bad scope listed above and it looks like we all have great tastes, hard to go wrong with any of those.

Can't go with you on that. Windage is in Mil, elevation is in Mil, and no matter what power setting I know what wind to hold. Every rifle I have that hunts with a scope is wearing a Mil/ Mil FFP.

Same here. I couldn't imagine going back to moa. Maybe sfp. Maybe.

Walter

My biggest concern is that the reticle matches the turrets. Other than that it's just simple math.

I was eyeing the new Nightforce BEAST scope. It looks freakin' awesome. NF changed up their glass for top clarity, and the reviews from a few shooters I know said it was on par with the S&B glass now. The only issue is I can but 2 NXS scopes for the price of 1 BEAST.

And a bit of a wait for the actual release of the beast.

I couldn't agree more Jason. I'm exactly the same way.

I think it's cause you guys can't do the math!
On a second focal scope, if you cut the power in half, your reticle size doubles. So, my .5 mil hash at 22x is now a 1 mil hash at 11x. And I'm either at 22x or 11x when I need to use either power setting. It's pretty easy!

I can do math. My problem is when I'm in speed mode, shooting a stage, points on the line, guys watching, I'm in my lower brain. I need no other factor involved. Maybe you just use more percentage of your brain than I do, Chad! When you train like you fight, fight like you train, I want the same scope I've practiced so much with to be the one I hunt with.

Jp- how far do you consider long range?